Hospital gown

ABSTRACT

A hospital gown having strategically positioned slits and fitted fasteners along the front, back and sides to allow preferential closing of the open seams and securing sensor connected leads or intravenous tubing to the patient. The hospital gown has a rear-opened garment, fasteners for closing the shoulder and sleeves sections, rear fasteners, plurality of strategically positioned slits for passing tubes and wire and plurality of pockets. The hospital gown may comprise a side-opened garment, shoulder fasteners, side fasteners, plurality of slits for passing tubes and wire and plurality of pockets. The preferred and alternative embodiments of the hospital gown feature one or more hook-and-loop strips or snaps strategically placed at the front, sides and, or back of the hospital gown.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser.No. 11/796,624 filed Apr. 27, 2007 which claims the benefit ofprovisional patent application Ser. No. 60/795,439 filed Apr. 27, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to clothing, and more particularly, toa hospital gown having a plurality of slits that allow tubes andwire-connected sensors to be attached to the wearer without opening orlifting the gown.

2. Description of the Background Art

When a patient is in the hospital, they are typically connected to anumber of tubes and sensors comprising wire. The tubes and wire aretypically run under the gown, through the sleeves and neck openingmaking direct contact with the patient's skin. This direct contact withthe skin increases the risks of irritation, infection and stress.Routing lines under the gown is also uncomfortable and leaves thepatient exposed, which can be embarrassing. While conventional hospitalgowns fit over the patient, they do not provide for receiving tubes andwires without exposing the patient. If a hospital gown existed that hadopenings and structure for accommodating hospital tubes, wires and thelike in a manner that increased patient comfort and privacy and reducedthe risks of irritation, infections and stress, it would be wellreceived.

Although there are a variety of hospital gowns known in the backgroundart, there are no known hospital gowns that adequately address theproblems in the prior art as contemplated by the instant invention. Forinstance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,268, issued to Freeman, discloses apatient's gown having a body portion with a main panel positioned on therear or front side of the patient and pair of adjacent side panels andsleeves sewn to the body portion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,848, issued toBuckley, discloses a cardiac garment having a front closing, an interiorpocket for a monitor, a belt tying in front or in back, and closuremeans. It provides modesty, comfort, durability and an attractiveappearance. The garment is designed for use in all cardiacrehabilitation situations including exercise and stress testing. Theentire garment is made of x-ray transparent materials. U.S. Pat. No.5,142,702, issued to Piloian, discloses a garment with an interiorpocket that houses and holds an ostomy appliance. U.S. Pat. No.5,361,414, issued to Smith, discloses a hospital privacy gown having abody garment with a front portion, a vertically split rear portiondivided into two segments, a pair of sleeves and a neck opening, so thatthe body garment can be worn by a patient with a fastener is forretaining the two segments of the vertically split rear portion togetherat the neck opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,923, issued to Maria, disclosesan easily attached and detached patient gown that consists of a backpiece and an identical front piece. U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,758, issued toBurkard et al., discloses a feeding tube accessible wearing apparel forgiving a user a sense of dignity and privacy during a medical procedure.U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,187, issued to Siegel, discloses multipurposemedical clothing, such as a gown or robe, that safely accommodatesmedical appliances attached to a patient, affords privacy, and thusencourages the patient to be up and ambulatory. U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,321,issued to Shamam, discloses a closed rear gown for a patient to wear inthe hospital that provides for modesty and for convenient access to thepatient's body by the medical and nursing staff for patient care. U.S.Pat. No. 6,574,800, issued to Leger et al., discloses a garmentincluding a torso portion of an extent sufficient to encircle a garmentwearer's torso and arm openings provided in the torso portion. U.S. Pat.No. 7,010,812, issued to Cho et al., discloses a papilla gown having acloth web that is adapted to cover the body of a patient, an elongatedhole provided on the cloth web communicating the inside of the cloth webwith the outside of the cloth web, a pocket attached to the cloth web, acover portion that is provided on the outside of the cloth web andcovers the hole, and a fastener that fastens the cover portion to theoutside of the cloth web.

The foregoing noted background art fails to disclose a hospital gownwith strategically positioned openings and structure for accommodatinghospital tubes, wires and the like that adequately addresses andresolves the above noted problems. Accordingly, there exist a need for ahospital gown that addresses the shortcomings in the prior art. Theinstant invention addresses this unfulfilled need in the prior art byproviding a hospital gown that accommodates tubes, wires and otherhospital instruments as contemplated by the instant invention disclosedherein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a hospital gown that runs tubes and wire without exposing thepatient.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gownthat does not lift a sleeve or neck opening leaving the patient exposedwhen running tubes and wire.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a hospital gownwith strategically positioned openings or slits for passing tubes andwire without lifting sleeves or openings and, or leaving the patientexposed.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide ahospital gown that reduces patient skin contact with medical lines todecrease the risks of irritation, infections and stress.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a hospitalgown that improves patient comfort and privacy.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide a hospitalgown that replaces safety pins and facilitates early ambulation.

In light of these and other objects, the instant invention comprises ahospital gown having strategically positioned slits and fitted fastenersalong the front, back and sides to allow preferential closing of theopen seams enhancing modesty and securing sensor connected leads orintravenous tubing to the patient. The hospital gown of the instantinvention allows remains closed covering the patient while connected towired sensors and, or intravenous tubing. The hospital gown preferablycomprises a side-opened garment, sleeve fasteners for closing theshoulder and IV sleeve sections, side fasteners, plurality ofstrategically positioned slits for passing tubes and wire (i.e. medicallines) and plurality of pockets. In an alternative embodiment, thehospital gown comprises a rear-opened garment, IV sleeve fasteners, rearfasteners, plurality of slits for passing medical lines and plurality ofpockets. The preferred and alternative embodiments of the hospital gownfeature one or more strings or snap fasteners strategically placed atthe front, sides and, or back of the hospital gown. Alternatively, thefasteners may comprise hook-and-loop.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational back view of the alternative embodiment of thehospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational front view of the alternative embodiment of thehospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational back view of preferred embodiment of thehospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational front view of the preferred embodiment of thehospital gown in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational front view of the preferred embodiment of thehospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instantinvention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational rear view of the preferred embodiment of thehospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instantinvention.

FIG. 7 is an elevational front view of the alternative embodiment of thehospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instantinvention.

FIG. 8 is an elevational rear view of the preferred embodiment of thehospital gown in an opened position in accordance with the instantinvention.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the hospital gown in use in accordance withthe instant invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 9 depict the preferred andalternative embodiments of the instant invention which is generallyreferenced as a hospital gown and, or by numeric character 10. Theinstant invention 10 is a hospital gown having slits and fitted withVelcro strips at the front, back and sides to allow preferential closingof the open seams enhancing modesty and securing sensor connected leadsor intravenous tubing to the patient. The hospital gown 10 will allowthe user to wear a single hospital gown while maintaining a closed andcovered backside and connected to wired sensors or intravenous tubing.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2 and 7-8, the alternative embodiment of thehospital gown 10 comprises a rear-opened garment 12, shoulder fasteners14 for closing the shoulder and IV sleeves sections, rear fasteners 16,leads slit 20, first pocket 22, central line slits 21, 23, gastronomyslit 24 for percutaneous feeding, drainage tube slit 26, second pocket28, slit 30 and third pocket 32. The rear fasteners 16 may comprisestrings, snaps or hook-and-loop. The shoulder fasteners 14 preferablycomprise snaps or strings but may comprise hook-and-loop.

With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the preferred embodiment of the hospitalgown 10 comprises a side-opened garment 12, shoulder fasteners 14, sidefasteners 15, leads slit 20, first pocket 22, gastronomy slit 24 forpercutaneous feeding, slit 30 and pocket 32. The rear fasteners 16 maycomprise strings, snaps or hook-and-loop. The shoulder fasteners 14preferably comprise snaps or strings but may comprise hook-and-loop. Thepreferred and alternative embodiments of the hospital gown 12 featuresone or more fasteners 14 and 15 or 16 strategically placed at the front,sides and, or back of the hospital gown 10. The side fasteners 15, 16are preferred as they fully close the gown 10 from the side enhancingmodesty. One or more pockets 22, 28, 32 or similar attachments areincluded at the front and, or sides of the gown to hold identification,excess medical lines or medical devices. The garment 12 may bemanufactured with one or more front or side slits 20, 24, 26 and, or 30.The garment 12 may be printed, dyed, colored or stenciled to display alogo, emblem or other graphic representation. The hospital gown 10 maybe manufactured from cloth, woven plastic or plastic film with wovencotton cloth being the preferred material for construction.

To use the instant invention, the hospital gown 10 is worn in the samemanner as a conventional hospital gown except that the fasteners 14 and15 or 16 are mated together to provide modest closure of the rear andsides. When needed the sensor-connected leads or intravenous tubing arerun through the garment's slits 20, 24, 26, and, or 30 and excess tubingor other medical instruments connected to the tubing or otherwise may beplaced in one or more of the pockets 22, 28, 30. The fasteners 14 and 15or 16 are released when it is necessary to remove the hospital gown 10or when it is necessary to access the patient's body beneath thegarment. The garment 10 is placed in the laundry or discarded when nolonger needed.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious structural and/or functionalmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

1. A hospital gown for a patient, said device comprising: a garmentcomprising body portion formed by a panel that wraps around the torsoand has opposing side edges that are releasably joinable to completelycover the patient's back side, releasably closeable sleeves each havingopposing edges that are releasably joinable proximal the shouldersections and a neck section formed by said body portion; body portionmeans for releasably joining said body portion side edges; sleeve meansfor releasably joining said sleeve edges; at least one central line slitformed through said body portion below and proximal said neck section;at least one telemetry slit formed through said body portion below saidcentral line slit; at least one gastrostomy slit formed through saidbody portion below and to the side of said telemetry slit; and atelemetry pocket disposed over said telemetry slit.
 2. A device asrecited in claim 1, further comprising: at least one pocket disposed onsaid body portion below said telemetry pocket.
 3. A device as recited inclaim 1, wherein said body portion means for joining said body portionside edges comprises fasteners disposed proximal the side edges forjoining said body portion side edges on the patient's side.
 4. A deviceas recited in claim 1, further comprising: a drainage tube slit proximaleach side of said garment; and a pocket over each said drainage tubeslit.
 5. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means forreleasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality ofcooperating hook-and-loop strips.
 6. A device as recited in claim 1,wherein said means for releasably joining said sleeve edges comprises aplurality of cooperating hook-and-loop strips.
 7. A device as recited inclaim 1, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portionedges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.
 8. A device as recitedin claim 1, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portionedges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.
 9. A hospital gown,said device comprising: a garment comprising body portion formed by apanel that wraps around the torso and has opposing edges that arereleasably joinable along the side of one's torso and releasablecloseable sleeves each having opposing edges that are releasablyjoinable proximal the shoulder sections, said garment comprising arecessed neck section; means for releasably joining said body portionedges; means for releasably joining said sleeve edges; at least oneleads slit disposed below and proximal said recessed neck section; atleast one gastrostomy slit disposed below said central line slit; atleast one drainage tube slit disposed below said gastrostomy slit; andat least one central line slit defined below at least one of said sleeveopposing edges.
 10. A device as recited in claim 9, further comprising:a pocket over said leads slit.
 11. A device as recited in claim 9,further comprising: a pocket over said drainage tube slit.
 12. A deviceas recited in claim 9, further comprising: a drainage tube slit proximaleach side of said garment; and a pocket over each said drainage tubeslit.
 13. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said means forreleasably joining said body portion edges comprises a plurality ofcooperating hook-and-loop strips.
 14. A device as recited in claim 9,wherein said means for releasably joining said sleeve edges comprises aplurality of cooperating hook-and-loop strips.
 15. A device as recitedin claim 9, wherein said means for releasably joining said body portionedges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.
 16. A device asrecited in claim 9, wherein said means for releasably joining said bodyportion edges comprises a plurality of cooperating snaps.